Scaffold support



Feb. 4, 1947. R. E. GoRANsoN SGAFFOLD SUPPORT Filed Sept. ll, 1944 Patented Feb. 4, i947 2 1: 5

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 11, 1944,`SerialNo. 553,535

9 Claims. (Cl. 304-37) My invention relates `to -an improvement in scaffold support, wherein it is desired to provide a simple `and effective means of supporting a scalfold.

'In painting or doing repair work it has usually been necessary either to erect a scaffold for supporting the workmen or else to suspend a plat- Vform in the proper position. In working upon the exterior of buildings 'it is often most convenient to suspend a movable platform from the roof of the'fbuilding. In painting, decorating or repairing `the interior of a building it is usually necessary to erect a scaffold upon which the workers may be supported. Such a scaffold takes considerable time toerect andA requires considerable iioor space. Thus valuable floor space is lost throughout the entire painting or decorating process unless the scalfold` is dismantled during workinghours which l'is `ordinarily a costly procedure. For this reasonfpainting-and decorating is often postponed until it is absolutely necessary.

I have found that vertical columns are often located about the area'to be painted or decorated. Most stores for example are .provided with regularly spaced pillars which act as building supports. Building "Walls are 'often provided with regularly spaced windows 'leaving vertical pillars therebetween. I have foundthat'by-using these existing pillars :on Ybuilding structures as the vertical supports ofia scalfolding. apaintingfand decorating operation may 'take `place without the use 'ofany vflo or space.

It `is an .object of the presentinven'tion :to provide `flexible 'bands encircling spaced posts `or pillars and to provide on these bands fa means of `supporting a scaffold. By using the-existing pillars vor posts the requirement for a'frame work resting on the floor is eliminated, thushgreatly simplifying the task of erecting ascalfold. Furthermore, if the roombeing .decorated hasa yhigh Aff-,enum qf the ,present .invention resides in :55

the fact `that the exible bands used lto support the scalfold may encircle Va pillar or post of virtually -any shape andthe size of the pillars or posts which act as supports `is not particularly important, 'as long as the band is of sufficient length to encircle the same. Thus it is necessary to support a scaffold from posts or pillars of various sizes and shapes Without changing the construction offthe supportingelements.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the pillar encircling bands are provided with a clamping means which hold the bands in pillar encircling position. The vbands are held in place both by the natural friction of the band and also by the fact that -the scalfold is lusually supported from one side of the band,

thereby tightening the band about its pillar `or post as the pressure upon the scaffold increases.

A furtherfeature of the present inventionresides in a `means of connecting the ends: of two scaffold forming members together so ias to provide anexpandible or contractablescaifold forming element between adjacent posts.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly `vand fully set forth -in the following `specii-lcationfand claims.

In the `drawing forming a part of my specilication:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a pair of lpil lars showing a rigid scaffold supporting element therebetween.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through the clamp for holding the band in encircling position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cla-mp illustrated in Figure `2.

Figurel `is a perspective `View of the hook which is supported by each band and which acts'to support a scaifold member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the clamp used to hold the rigid scaffold supporting elements in overlapping relation.

The vscaffold support is designed to connect existing fpillars or posts of a building in such a manner as to form a support for a scalfold vor platform. Figure 1 illustrates -a pair of postsor pillarsv A having scaffold supporting elements I'B attached thereto. The elements B include la-flexible web, belt, or strap I0 having one end Il thereof attached to a clamping element l2. The other end I3 of `each belt ID is free vandmayfbe held in pillar encircling position .by means of the clamping element I2.

YAs best illustrated in Figures .2 and 3 lof the drawing the clamping element I2 comprises a .box-shaped frame including a rear side I4,a

front side l5, and a, pair of top and bottom connecting sides I6. A rectangular frame open at both ends is thus provided.

A clamping plate I1 is slidably supported within the rectangular clamp I2. The clamping plate I1 is provided with a corrugated or otherwise roughened under-surface I9 as best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. The plate I1 extends somewhat beyond the open ends of the frame I2 and is provided`with laterally projecting'ears which hold the plate in place.

A boss 2| is provided on the exterior surface of the outer plate I5 of the clamping member I2 and a clamping bolt 22 is threaded through this boss 2| and the plate I5. The inner end of the bolt 22 is rounded to engagev against the yor, post, and the upper extremity of this arm 25 is bent laterally and downwardly at 25 to provide a narrow channel 21 of proper thickness to accommodate the flexible belt B. This channel 21 is only of sufficient thickness to, accommodate the belt and provides a means of supporting the hook element 24 from the flexible band.

. The element 24 is also provided at its lower end with ar laterally extending arm 29 which terminates in an upwardly projecting end 3i). The arms29 and 30 form a hook for accommodating a plank-such asa two by six or the like, which is supported on edge to provide maximum strength.

v.The end II of the band I0 is looped about the 40 plate I 4.` of the clamping element` I2` and is secured in this positiony by rivets 3| or other suitable means. In assembling the scaffold the bands I0 are placed to encircle the pillars A and the free ends I3 of the band are inserted through the clamping elements I2 between the clamping plates I1 and the clamp portion I4. When properly encircling the post the band end I3 will then overlap the fixed end VII in the manner illustrated, The clamping bolt 22 is tightened so as -to clamp the ends of the band Ill together, thus holding the band properly engaged aboutr the 4post.

The hook 24 is supported by the band I0 and is suspended therefrom. Two hook elements 24 are supported at approximately the same elevation and in parallel relation and a supporting plank structure is engaged inthe hook elements 24. The scaffold or platform supportingthe workmen 'is Vthen superimposed upon the connecting planks.

If the posts A are relatively close together a singleconnecting plankmay extend from one hook 24 to the next. However, if the posts or pillars are slightly farther apart it is usually preferable to use two planks arranged in overlapping relationship. As best indicated in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawing the planks are held in' proper relation by clamping elements indicated in general by the numeral 32.. The plank clamps 32 are similar in structure to the clamping elements I2 previously described, but are of .larger size so as to accommodate the planks. `Theclamping .elements 32. each include a rear 4plate 33, a front plate 34 and connecting plates 4 35 and 36. A clamping plate 31 extends beyond the open ends of the rectangular frame, thus produced, and ears 39 on the clamping plate 31 hold the clamping plate in proper position within 5 the frame.

A bolt 40 extends through a boss 4I on the plate 34 of the clamping element frame and bears against the surface of the clamping plate 31, thus urging the clamping plate against one 10 of the two 'planks'being clamped. The two planks C are held in proper relationship by the clamping The belts IU are placed at the proper elevation to encircle the posts or pillars A. The hook elements 24 are arranged in parallel relation and at approximately the same elevation. The distance between the posts is then measured. If a single plank C is of suflicient length to reach between the posts such a single plank Vmay be employed. It is usually preferable, howevenlto employ the two planks C in overlapping relation, one of the planks being engaged in each hook 24. The planks are adjusted to proper length and the clamping elements 32 are tightened so as to hold the planks in proper relation. The planks are then engaged in the hook elements 24 and the scaffold platform may'be supported thereby. If the posts are in rows it is usually desirable to provide the scaffold supporting elements B on four rectangularly arranged posts. Each pair of supporting elements is connected by planks C and the platform may be formed by laying planks between the planks C supported thereby.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I Vhave described the principles of construction and operationY of my scaffold support, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Icl-aim: i 1. A scaffold support for use in combination with vertical pillars comprising a wide fiar, flexible band of webbing designed to encircle each pillar of -a pair of adjacent pillars and conform to the shape thereof, means for connecting the ends of the bands in pillar encircling position, and means supported thereby independently of said connecting means for connecting said bands. 2. A scaffold support; for use in combination with vertical building pillars, said support comprising'a pair of wide fiat flexible bands lof webbing encircling adjacent pillars and conforming to theshape thereof, means connecting the ends of theV band in pillar encircling position, independent bracket means supported byeaoh band, and a rigid connecting means connecting said bracket means.. Y 1 l 3. A scaffold supportifor use in combination with vertical building pillars, said support comprising awide flat flexible band of webbing yarrangedto 'encircle each pillar oftwo adjacent pillars and conform to the shape thereof, means connecting the ends of the band inpillar encircling position, independent hook means supported by each flexible band, and rigid connecting means connecting said hook means.

4. A scaffold support for use in combination with vertical pillars, said support comprising a wideflat flexible band of webbing arranged'to encircle each pillar of a pair of adjacent pillars and conform to the shape thereof, means for `clamping said band in pillar encircling position, one at surface of said band contacting the pillar substantially throughout the periphery thereof, rigid means extending between said bands, and bracket means connecting said rigid means to said bands.

5. A scaiiold support for use in combination with vertical building pillars, said support comprising a Wide flat flexible band of webbing designed to encircle a pillar with the ends thereof in overlapping relation, la clamping mean-s for clamping said overlapping ends of said band in pillar encircling position, and at hook means of relatively inilexible material supported by said band between the band and the post.

6. A scaffold support for use incombination with vertical building pillars, said support comprising a eXible band designed to encircle each of a pair of adjacent pillars, each said band having means connected thereto for clamping said band in post encircling position, hook means selectively engageable with any portion of the encircling band secured to said band, and rigid means adjustable in length connecting said hook means.

7. A scaffold support for use in combination with building pillars comprising means encircling each of a lpair of adjacent pillars, means clamping -said encircling means in encircling position, rigid means connecting said encircling means, said rigid means including two rigid elements, and means holding said elements in overlapping relatin, and means selectively engageable With any portion of the encircling means securing said connecting means to said encircling means.

8. A scaiold support for use in combination with vertical pillars comprising a exible band adapted to encircle a pillar, a box shaped clamping member connected to one end of said flexible member, a movable clamping plate in said clamping element, means for pressing said clamping plate against the other end of said .band when the same is inserted therethrough to hold said band in pillar encircling position with the ends thereof overlapping, and hook means connected to said band and depending therefrom.

9. A clamping means for clamping a pair of vparallel clamping supports in overlapping relation, said clamp comprising a substantially rectangular frame open at the ends, said rectangular frame accommodating the ends of said scaffold supporting members, a flat clamping plate slidably mounted in said frame and having a ilat surface movable toward and away from said scaffold supporting elements, and means for moving said clamping plate toward said scaiiold supporting elements to clamp the same together.

ROBERT E. GORANSON.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,396,968 Madsen, et al Nov. 15, 1921 1,395,308 Sykes Nov. 1, 1921 2,185,948 Pimm Jan. 2, 1940 1,528,268 Schlegel Mar. 3, 1925 1,515,831 Bush Nov. 18, 1924 2,226,359 Spencer Dec. 24, 1940 1,750,869 Uris Mar. 18, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 320,747 British May 2, 1940 823,272 French Jan. 18, 1938 i 

